The First Time

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

  “It seemed you are not feeling quite comfortable in your seat?” he observed to the first girl as the bus made its way out of the stationary position. The seat on which she was sitting was rocking from side to side in rhythm to the swerves of the vehicle anytime it encounters series of potholes. The vehicle was making bends and corners to avoid dangerous potholes under bad headlights. When he said that, the second girl felt highly disappointed for she had been throwing some careless glances at him despite the darkness that have engulfed them. She has been making efforts to feel herself closer to him for his attention.

     “Yeah, it’s the hinges. They are not firmly secured to the main seat,” she confirmed rather pleased with his show of concern.

     “Well come and take my seat then and let me seat on yours,” he offered, and that was him in his usual way.

     “That’s kind of you,” she remarked, “I am so grateful,” 

     “Well, feel relaxed,”

     “Thanks. I pray you don’t get waist pain on that seat. It’s too bad,” she employed.

     “I better have it than you or any other girl,” he replied.

     She turned around and fixed her eyes on him trying to make his face in that dark bus. Though it was dark in the vehicle, for some seconds she made no comment, but he felt she wore a girlish smile on her impressed face. This might not be the first time she is hearing words like that or someone extending some kindness to her. However, there was something about him. Yes, there is something unique about him and the way he said it. He was sincere. He couldn’t make out her features because he had not truly cared to notice. He was aware that she had a good figure and wore a sweet-smelling fragrance that was soft and warm.

     “What’s your name?” he was compelled to ask. She moved closer to him almost relying on his extended arm across the back of the seat for balance.

     She looked into his face for a moment. Their faces were close to each other. It was like she wanted to identify him by his smell. He could hear her silent but excited breathing. Their faces could have been an inch away from the other. He could smell the warmth on her skin.

     “I don’t savior telling strangers my name, but for your kindness, I’m Chidera Obi,”

     “That’s a pleasurable name. I’m right by Chideras’ side,” he had fallen for the name.

     “You’re quite correct, my dear,” she replied in a sensational way.

     “Where’re you from and where to?”

     “I hail from Awka and I’m returning from an examination. It was a special center at Abakilike in Ebony state. I am heading back to the preliminary study campus,” she replied.

     “Really? What a coincidence?”

     “What’s the coincidence?” she inquired rather excitedly.

     “Well, I also was coming back from the same examination though at a different center Onitsha. The venue was at the DMGS School to be precise. Am also heading back to the same destination though I’m not a native of Awka,”

     “Wow!”

     “Yes! So how was the exam?” he asked.

     “Well, it was fine sha. You know under runs level. My brother did all he could to freight some bullets to me. But at the end of the day, he ended up hurting himself. He attempted to scale the fence to enter the examination venue. I even told him not to bother since most people in the hall were cooperative, but he wouldn’t listen. He got hurt by the barbed wires on the side of the fence...Hey, it was terrific as the hall of the venue became too rowdy. Everyone was trying to copy from the other or exchanging bullets,” She opened up to him to his amazement.

     Few people will be willing to let you know they participated in examination malpractice but she was unlike that. Cheating on test and exams were widespread. It was the opium of academic success. That’s how so many got away with good grades into and out of the walls of the high institutions of their choice. Anything goes in this country. What matters is not how you got what you have got but that you made it anyway at all cost and successfully too.

     That was the popular saying. After all, the end justifies the means as they used to say. So why bother one’s self with the end.

     “How were you able to cope under such a situation?” he pestered her further.

     “Well, I couldn’t focus anymore. I was disappointed that my brother couldn’t bring the already solved materials right into the hall. At the same time he got himself injured in the process,” she replied. "I joined the crew,” she added with a shrug.

     He had at first recoiled at that. If it had come out of a fellow male like him, he wouldn’t have bothered but from a girl, he was stroked with shock and dumbfounded. It was understandable his first conversation with a female on such a topic. He was rather intrigued by her easygoing disposition. Her heartfelt sincerity was clear without a stain. Her revelation though it might paint a negative impression was not at all an odd fact. In the end, he forced a smile on his face. The fact she never pretended her character in any form made her exceptional. She was definitely heartily―open-minded.

     “How about your brothers’ injury?”

     “He had to treat himself in a pharmaceutical store,” 

    “And you’re optimistic about the outcome of the exam?”

     “Yah, yah!” she said. He noticed that flinch of doubt in her voice.

     “Now you said you are a student of the preliminary study program, what faculty and department are you in?”

     “Faculty of engineering. Electrical and electronics engineering department to be precise,” she excitedly exclaimed.

     “Wooh! Woo! I’m quite in for a big surprise,”

     “How do you mean?”

     “Well, that’s the faculty and the same department I’m in too. But how on earth haven’t I been seeing you in the department,”

     “Well, maybe you’re among those groups of boys that never cared to notice. We girls in the department knew lots of you guys,” she was been blunt with him and she was damned right.

     “Maybe it isn’t true. Maybe it’s because it’s too dark in here for me to see your face well,” he made to defend myself.

     She laughed out loud amused. 

     “What’s amusing you?”

     “Boys! They can concoct excuses to escape blame. Maybe it’s we the girls that should have all the blame. Maybe we aren’t good enough for your kind of person,” She bemoans to him.

     “Well, sometimes it’s not that one doesn’t care but, you know…It could be that he hadn’t found the right type of person to suit him,”

     “Yeah, sometimes it’s true, but you must take the initiative and interest first in your fellow human before finding if such is right for you or not,”

     “Where are you living?” he quickly made to change the topic.

     “I’m living at Famous lodge,”

     “I wonder... where is that located?”

     "It’s along the road as you’re going down towards the campus road, by the right side of it. The first road by the right, then enter the compound,” she was descriptive and dramatic at that.

     “Ok, I’ll check you out one day,” 

     “Sure?”

     “Yeah,”

     The bus came to a halt. And all eyes peered through the side windscreens. They’re already at the park and started alighting from the bus.

     As he stood to survey the area for an Okadaman―a commercial motorbike, Chidera waved at him. She bid him good night as she mounted one of the last remaining bikes and he waved back at her rather excited. As there was no other affordable Okadaman around, he made it home on foot to his lodge―The British lodge.

     It was 10:30 pm the night.

     All through the night he felt and was full of boyish exuberance. He couldn’t wait for the next day being Sunday to pass for him to meet her once again on Monday.

The excitement ran through him the next day like wide fire. It was like a malaria fever. He burned all over with the feverish condition of excitement to meet her again.

     The next day passed and he rarely noticed, then came the D-day Monday―the day of heightened expectation.

     He got ready for school earlier than usual. And with his friend Kristor, he walked with air to the school. Their lodge was located some few meters away from the school campus. The two departments, engineering, and environmental departments were housed under the same building. The two friends were always either seen sitting or walking about together whenever there was no class. In many instances, they could be seen inside the library, which also was under the same building as the two faculties and departments. The library was their favorite place to stay. Anyone looking for them knew exactly where to find them. Yes, right inside the library. That was a good place for them to hide, either reading the dailies, novels―which they always borrow home. They do their entire take-home test there before heading home. The two preferred the library to the noisy lecture halls and it really counted much on their academic success later.

It was morning. They were discussing an issue with a group of boys just outside the lecture hall. Kelvin knew he was restless. His eyes were roving about for the object of his interest. He will always glance towards the school gates from time to time. Yes, he had woken earlier than usual. He was on time the school. When he got to the department, he couldn't see her. The reason he was restless. Neither Kristor nor Biggie one of their lodge mates with them knew what was going on in his mind. Then, he noticed her coming gently, paddling the soil with her feet as if they wouldn’t crush an ant. He got impressed at the awe of beauty she beheld. She was dressed in a simple black skirt and a cream round collar polo with stripes of colors across the chest and with an inscription, California at the front end. He still could remember. The air was tense around him even though it was morning. He noticed he hardly was breathing as she walked close.

     Unknown to him, she too was eager to meet him. She had caught sight of him earlier right at a distance―she later told him that on that fateful day they first met. She had committed to her memory a mental picture of his physique. She had noticed him in the class before that Saturday meeting. With his looks, it was not difficult for her to have recognized him even at a distance. He was always different from a crowd. If a blind man could feel pick him out of the crowd. He stands out. She deliberately cast her glance downwards to allow him to feed his eyes to his satisfaction.